christianity vs bhuddism
03 Jun '09 07:011 editBuddhism doesn't care whether it is a religion or not.
This statement (well-said) by Terrier Jack made me think of a story…
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A group of theologians and academic metaphysicians and lay-members of different schools were passionately involved in discussing, debating and—sometimes—preaching their various views, calling upon well-constructed formulae, commentaries, and venerable ancient texts. As they were so engaged, a stranger—a red-bearded barbarian, no less!—wandered uninvited and unannounced into the conference hall.
At first, no one noticed him—so immersed were they in their endeavors. But, slowly, one-by-one, they realized that someone had intruded. Discussion faded. Soon they were all looking—some with annoyance, some simply with curiosity—at the bearded old baldhead.
When he had their attention, he smiled, and said: “How strange that none of you knows the vastness that surrounds your own houses, the wilderness beyond the walls of your own gardens! None of you has dared to venture beyond the gridlines of your own—or even each others’—well-drawn maps! Your houses and your gardens and your maps are all you know, yet you spend your lives arguing over whose house, whose garden, whose maps, are the ‘right’ ones.”
Laughing softly, but not unkindly, he looked each one in the eyes—then turned and slowly walked out of the room.
Only one of the group got up and, leaving his texts and his papers on the table, followed the stranger out. The others gawked for a moment, shaking their heads at their erstwhile colleague’s foolishness, and then returned to their liturgies and disputations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Among all the various characters that could be imagined as the dramatis personae in this little play, how might you—that’s a general “you”, for anyone reading this—using your imagination, describe them? Who might be the various conferees? How would you describe the character of the one who left with the stranger? Who might you cast to play the parts? Which character (or characters) is you? Why? (Look again, and maybe again, just to see….)
I am not asking for any posts here; only offering a little story. If no one wants to look into it, filling in the details as an exercise, that’s fine.
Either way, be well, along the way.
gate…
This statement (well-said) by Terrier Jack made me think of a story…
___________________________________________________
A group of theologians and academic metaphysicians and lay-members of different schools were passionately involved in discussing, debating and—sometimes—preaching their various views, calling upon well-constructed formulae, commentaries, and venerable ancient texts. As they were so engaged, a stranger—a red-bearded barbarian, no less!—wandered uninvited and unannounced into the conference hall.
At first, no one noticed him—so immersed were they in their endeavors. But, slowly, one-by-one, they realized that someone had intruded. Discussion faded. Soon they were all looking—some with annoyance, some simply with curiosity—at the bearded old baldhead.
When he had their attention, he smiled, and said: “How strange that none of you knows the vastness that surrounds your own houses, the wilderness beyond the walls of your own gardens! None of you has dared to venture beyond the gridlines of your own—or even each others’—well-drawn maps! Your houses and your gardens and your maps are all you know, yet you spend your lives arguing over whose house, whose garden, whose maps, are the ‘right’ ones.”
Laughing softly, but not unkindly, he looked each one in the eyes—then turned and slowly walked out of the room.
Only one of the group got up and, leaving his texts and his papers on the table, followed the stranger out. The others gawked for a moment, shaking their heads at their erstwhile colleague’s foolishness, and then returned to their liturgies and disputations.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Among all the various characters that could be imagined as the dramatis personae in this little play, how might you—that’s a general “you”, for anyone reading this—using your imagination, describe them? Who might be the various conferees? How would you describe the character of the one who left with the stranger? Who might you cast to play the parts? Which character (or characters) is you? Why? (Look again, and maybe again, just to see….)
I am not asking for any posts here; only offering a little story. If no one wants to look into it, filling in the details as an exercise, that’s fine.
Either way, be well, along the way.
gate…
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